#royalmask

@royalmask

“Alola, professor!”

Lillie stood in front of the door to the lab, holding Snowy in her arms and smiling widely. It was good to be back in Alola again, even if it hadn't been that long since her last visit. She loved the chance to catch up with her friends, who to seemed to regularly have wild adventures across the islands.

“I was hoping I could stay with you a few days while I’m in Melemele, if it isn’t any trouble,” she said. Even though she’d only stayed in the loft for a few months, thinking of it brought a sense of safety and security that she didn’t feel in some places she’d lived for years. Lillie guessed that the professor’s confident presence probably had something to do with it.

Snowy started wriggling in her arms, signaling that she wanted to be put down. Lillie obliged, placing it gently on the ground before resuming her conversation with the professor. The Alolan Vulpix scampered off, presumably looking for Kukui’s Rockruff. Over Lillie’s past visits to Alola, the two seemed to have grown quite fond of each other. The thought of the Pokemon play-fighting reminded Lillie of a question she’d been carrying with her for some time now.

It was a crisp and beautiful spring morning, and DJ Mary had spent all of it by the fountain feeding Pidgey.  She didn’t have a lot of time before her usual radio show began, but Mary came here anyway just for the tranquility of it.  The park was peaceful.  As she watched the Pidgey pick at the bread crumbs, her thoughts wandered to everyone she had met during her time at the station.  It was Friend Day, after all, and her show would be all about spreading that joy between neighbors.

But what of her own friends?  The Director, her interns, Professor Oak, DJ Ben… Mary blushed then, Ben’s huge grin filling her heart with glee.  Friendship, she decided years ago, was something that must be cherished.  That was why she created this event.  And her listeners had followed suit: they came through with such aplomb that astounded her in every way.  They really were the best.

And as DJ Mary walked back to her office, and flipped the ON switch to her microphone, she thought about everyone else who hadn’t participated, but who had love and friendships of their own.  And she wanted nothing but the best for them.

HAU, PROF. KUKUI, and SABRINA—Congratulations!  Your names were the first to be drawn in the raffle.  You may now pick one (1) shiny Pokémon as your very own, so long as it is a Flying, Grass, or Water-type. There is no need to wait for the other winners to make their pick; everyone can choose whichever type they desire, regardless of what other types were chosen.

Prof. Kukui